Meet Arto - our October APE Achiever

Little Arto on one of his first Baby Jungle School outings

Baby Arto was kept illegally as a pet after a family claimed his mother had been chased away by dogs. Dressed in baby clothes and wearing a bracelet, Arto was treated like a human child. He was bathed three times a week, which damaged his skin’s natural defences, and fed a diet of human foods. The suffering and fear he endured are unimaginable.

Thankfully, in November 2023, Arto was rescued by our team. After a health check at our BORA rescue centre, he was found to have a bloated stomach but was otherwise in good health. Despite the long, rainy journey, Arto slept peacefully, clinging to the vet on the way to his new home.

Arto dressed in baby clothes and a bracelet during his rescue

His name, “Arto,” meaning "treasure" in Indonesian, reflects just how precious he is. In the wild, young male orangutans stay with their mothers for up to eight years to learn vital jungle skills. Now, Arto is learning to climb, forage, and build nests from his new orangutan family and human caregivers. He has also formed a special bond with another young orangutan, Harapi. These two are inseparable, and perhaps one day they’ll even be released into the wild together.

With years of care and Jungle School ahead, Arto’s future looks bright, thanks to the love and support of people like you. And we’re thrilled to share that Arto will soon be joining our adoption family, opening another way for you to follow and support his journey!

Arto was rescued by the Bornean Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry from Merapun Village in East Kalimantan.